AI: A silver lining for IVF
Detection of embryo capability using advanced AI will be the next big thing in IVF, as this technology offers higher success rates and standardization of embryo assessment across fertility centers in India
Over half a million In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) babies are born every year. Even though a significant growth is anticipated of the segment, the process is seen as a roller coaster ride for expectant parents as the IVF cycles have only 30 percent success rate. Each cycle is expensive — it’s taxing financially, physically and mentally for the patients.
In order to increase the chance of success and minimize complications, IVF experts are gradually turning to technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI). . They believe that the tool can provide expert clinical decision-making in embryo grading, embryo freezing and ultrasound diagnoses.
Experts vouch that AI is definitely forthcoming when it comes to infertility treatments. Improvement in the data available and refinement of algorithms can lead to breakthroughs in the current AI applications. AI intervention could enable the IVF process to be more transparent and assist people in making more informed choices.
Can AI Unlock the IVF puzzle
AI helps in tailoring the IVF process for the individual patient, because not every patient is the same, say doctors. They also inform that the IVF procedure will remain the same, AI will be used to improve outcomes and to get the best results.
Sharing how the traditional IVF process has heavily relied on the experience of the practitioner and advantages of AI, Dr Kshitiz Murdia, CEO and Co-Founder, Indira IVF, said, “AI automates a process that has traditionally required human intervention for a long time. Embryo selection is of the utmost importance in IVF cycles and AI standardises such processes, eradicating human bias. It also helps decrease the time spent by practitioners in defining treatment plans, determining doses for medication, selection and evaluation of gametes and embryos, enabling them to focus on the quality of treatment, eliminating human error, increasing the success rate of IVF treatments, and more importantly, leading to more pregnancies in the first cycle that brings down the overall financial and mental burden on patients.”
Informing that advanced AI will be one of the next big things in IVF, Dr. Arveen Vohra, Medical Director and Senior Reproductive Medicine Consultant, Milann Fertility Centre and Hospital, said, “AI offers higher success rates and standardisation of embryo assessment across fertility centers in the country. The current separation of good-quality embryos from the bad ones using AI is expected to save the time and effort of the embryologists by processing and interpreting more information with greater complexity and accuracy. This, in turn, could improve the efficiency of Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART), pregnancy results, treatment possibilities and patient care related to infertility.”